Throughout "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" the concept of work is a prominent theme. In the first section hot food was provided to the prisoners if they were working. If the prisoners were going to miss work, they needed to be placed on a sick list, of which a few spots existed. When they were unable to get their name on the list, they needed to go to work ill. Work was considered the best cure for a sickness (18). “The Socialists’ Way of Life” settlement was one of the worst places to end up because of no shelter and no fire and poor weather conditions (23). Three artists imprisoned would assist other prisoners to re-do their numbers so they would be clearly exposed as required by the guards (24).
A prison camp would not be a prison camp if there was no authority. The unique relationship between the prisoners and the guards keeps the reader in edge in the first section of the novel. The leaders of the camp had strict control over the prisoners, and they needed to follow the rules to avoid punishment. Fences, barbed wire, and searchlights kept prisoners from escaping (8). Everyone had numbers assigned to them that were used in place of names. When sick in bed, Ivan was forced to do the most difficult job of scrubbing floors because he woke up late. A bible was hid in the wall so it would not be seen that the man was worshiping (21). Squad leaders persuaded others in charge with food in order to keep their men in good condition (23).
Prisoners endured poor quality food and harsh environmental conditions, which they had to adapt to in order to survive. They were forced to eat soups consisting of fish eyes and typical waste products (10). Proper clothing was not provided for the weather conditions, which was extremely cold with no warmth to be found anywhere (10, 11). Bread was limited in rations, which made people fearful of more starvation (6). Praying was also used as an outlet for survival (6). Food was in short supply and rice was substituted for oatmeal because it was cheaper. Bread and a sugar cube were provided and bread was often broken apart and hidden to have pieces later (20). Smoking became used for passing time and stress reduction (24). The guards started undressing the prisoners when it was found that they had extra layers of clothing on (26, 27, 28).
2
At a prison camp the work is hard and made especially difficult in subzero temperatures. In section two all the prisoners were hauling sand and moving blocks while Ivan and two others talked around the stove. They begin to talk about escapes attempted by other prisoners. Ivan says that he thinks life in this camp is easy and quiet, and Fetiukov says that that's because squealers are known to have their throats cut here. In a camp like the one in the book everyone had to be aware of what they said and who they said it to.
Anyone who has authority over a person can make that person do whatever he desires. In section two Tiurin walks in and tells Ivan's squad that they will be assigned to work on the half built power station. Ivan and Kilgas are ordered to board up the windows of the machine room in order to make the room warmer. They find panels in a construction site and carry it back to Tiurin, trying not to get caught by the superintendents. Tiurin heads up to do a work report, which is very important because the group gets food proportionate to the amount of work they do.
Survival is always on the minds of the prisoners at the camp. Whether is be saving a little bread from each meal or layering on clothes to stay warm in the frigid weather nothing is more important then survival. While the squad leaders plan what the workers will be doing for that day, Ivan eats some of the bread he has brought with him. While he does that he thinks about how unappreciated the large amounts of food in his village always were and how they would stuff themselves with food. Being in a prison camp changes the perspective of many about what hard work and a good meal actually are.
3
Work is a large part of every prisoners life. Work is what earns them food and food is what allows them to live. Zeks one group of prisoners, helped carry the cook’s supplies in order to earn another portion of food later (59).The squad leaders have more influence over getting the job done and the prisoners will work through a break if asked by him because he is the one that feeds them (73). The prisoners are working on building a wall and the mortar is freezing immediately because of the extreme cold (75). The squad works hard together because, when one member slacks, the entire team suffers later. Everyone is working together to finish the job quickly because they want to get it done, but they are also getting angrier with one another because some are getting lazy. “Thank God for the man who does his job and keeps his mouth shut (80).”
Different levels of authority are respected depending on what they provide the prisoners. “And however much blood you sweat at work, however much you grovel on your belly, you'll force no food out of that earth; you'll get no more than the damned authorities give you (59)." Officers have very warm quarters that feel like a “Turkish bath” and complain of the cold, unlike the temperatures sustained by the prisoners(66). The authority smokes on their pipes continuously throughout the day (66). The officers are also concerned about how to prevent the prisoners from stealing firewood, which they are not allowed to have, to provide them with warmth (66). Guards are not as respected by the prisoners because they do not offer any benefits to the prisoners (73).
The way of life for every prisoner was work to get food to live so they could work another day to get food. There were various ways to get extra food that most prisoners engaged in. The prisoners had to be careful though because there were squealers all around. Zeks worked extra hard helping the cook to receive another portion of food (59). Shukhov stole two extra bowls when the cook wasn’t looking (60). Shukhov uses a piece of crust saved from his bread to scrape the bowl clean so that he would get every morsel (64). Squealers previously had their throats cut at night, so it is necessary to be cautious when speaking. They huddle around each other to keep warm by the fire. Work is necessary for survival in order to get their food rations.
4
Shukhov gets a sense of pride and self-worth in his work. Since Shukhov’s trowel isn’t on the list, he tells the rest of the men to give their trowels in and he would continue working (87). He has learned a new trade in the prison camp that he can take pride in when he sees the wall completed. While looking for the Moldavian, the narrator mentioned “It’s no joke to rob five hundred men of over half an hour (95).” Zeks that stay in the camp do jobs such as meet people who’ve got a parcel and get their number (106). This tends to pay them a cigarette. They received a better amount of food if they worked hard that day (110, 116).
Several ranks in the column would sometimes order the zeks to drop the firewood (92, 93). The 32nd was missing a man in his group and constant recounting was taking place. The deputy squad leader of the 32nd went in search for him, while the rest of the prisoners were spreading rumors that the dark little Moldavian was a real Rumanian spy (93). Everyone was in a rage and when they found the boy, who was just sleeping, they were furious and continued cursing (95). The head of the escort was getting frustrated at this point and he said that they could sit down in the snow until dawn (96). Boots and gloves were taken off in order to be frisked. The only problem was that Shukhov forgot about the hacksaw blade in his pocket and so he stuck it in his mitten. Luckily his other mitten was not checked and so he was able to pass through (103, 104).
In order to stay warm, they collect firewood to burn. They calculated that everyone brought just a few sticks back then the barracks would be warmer (92). Everyone, including the escorts, was dying for a warm corner considering they were held back in the cold because of the Moldavian (98). “A man who’s in a hurry won’t live to see the end of his stretch—he’ll tire and be done for (98).” Going to the dispensary was considered a waste of time by Shukhov because their cure was to “put you in your grave” (99). God is still believed in and prayed to for help (104). Shukhov’s idea of hiding the bread in his mattress worked much better than others whose bread was stolen during the day (111). Shukhov was also taking the thickest stew (116).
5
Once more in section five the concept of work appears. Ivan Denisovich buys tobacco with the money he earns from doing odd jobs for a wealthy prisoner (121). The different skills Ivan has allow him to get by in the camp on his own, instead of having to rely on rations and packages. This is interesting because a smarter person in the camp can only get by because he receives two special packages a month. Ivan says the ability to do odd jobs in the camp is more important than being educated.
Ivan Denisovich notes that he does not envy Tsezar too much because he knows that much of the parcel will go to the authorities. He says that the list of people that want some of whatever he has will be endless, and if he knows best all the important people will get a cut.
Ivan thinks that two people in the camp will not survive. One of these men is Fetiukov because he does not have any sense of dignity and he constantly begs and steals to get by, making him look atrocious in the eyes of the other prisoners. Another person unlikely to survive is Captain Buinovsky because he still has too much pride to submit. Ivan says that one must be willing to submit to get by. This is just one day in ten years that Ivan spends in the camps and it can be seen all the good and bad things that happen in just that one day, making ten years seem like a very long time to live there.
Works Cited
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. New York: Signet Classic, 1974.
Section
Bread was limited in rations, which made people fearful of more starvation (6). Praying was also used as an outlet for survival (6). Food was in short supply and rice was substituted for oatmeal because it was cheaper. Bread and a sugar cube were provided and bread was often broken apart and hidden to have pieces later (20). Smoking became used for passing time and stress reduction (24). The guards started undressing the prisoners when it was found that they had extra layers of clothing on (26, 27, 28).
Anyone who has authority over a person can make that person do whatever he desires. In section two Tiurin walks in and tells Ivan's squad that they will be assigned to work on the half built power station. Ivan and Kilgas are ordered to board up the windows of the machine room in order to make the room warmer. They find panels in a construction site and carry it back to Tiurin, trying not to get caught by the superintendents. Tiurin heads up to do a work report, which is very important because the group gets food proportionate to the amount of work they do.
Ivan thinks that two people in the camp will not survive. One of these men is Fetiukov because he does not have any sense of dignity and he constantly begs and steals to get by, making him look atrocious in the eyes of the other prisoners. Another person unlikely to survive is Captain Buinovsky because he still has too much pride to submit. Ivan says that one must be willing to submit to get by. This is just one day in ten years that Ivan spends in the camps and it can be seen all the good and bad things that happen in just that one day, making ten years seem like a very long time to live there.
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. New York: Signet Classic, 1974.